PBL Photo Tent 30" Professional Studio Quality by PBL

I caveat my review with the fact that this is my first photo tent, so I don't have much to compare against. That said, this photo tent is easy to set up and to break down (once you get the hang of the twisting motion) and store. It's a good size, and I like having 4 different color back drops, although I use the white 90% of the time. I've used it about 20 times, and it seems to be of decent quality. No problems so far. The only issue, which has been mentioned in other reviews, is that the back drops have to be ironed. But I'm not sure how Amazon could ship it such that they didn't need to be ironed. And I doubt there is a material that is iron free. Honestly, it wasn't a big deal to iron them before use. To minimize creases after the first use, I wrapped them around the cardboard core of a used roll of wrapping paper, which was about the perfect size. I secured them with a couple of rubber bands.I considered purchasing a photo tent for a long time, and now wonder what took me so long. Photo tents are great for a so many applications. Is this the best one on the market? I don't know. But it's easy to use, seems to be good quality and is perfect for my needs.

I found this easy to open up & to collapse again & it comes with a carrying case for when it's collapsed. There are four color liners- red, black, white, & blue- that iron easily & stay wrinkle-free if you hang them over a bar. They attach to the inside of the tent with velcro. The box didn't diffuse light quite as much as I'd hoped. It's still pretty easy to get shadows if you use the tabletop lights that are recommended with it. However, I think it probably does just as well as any other photo tent out there. The tent has a front cover as well, which also attaches with velcro, with a slit for poking through your camera lens.

I work in the food industry and wanted to be able to take quality photos of our products rather than having to outsource the job to one of our agencies. I did a lot of researching before purchasing this item and chose it for a few reasons:1. Economical. Money isn't everything, but it is certainly a factor, and I was pleasantly surprised at the value this item offers. There are similar versions out there, but when you really look at the specs there isn't much difference between this version and others except a higher price point. I was able to upgrade the size and still pay less than other units and am happy I did.2. Quality. The nylon material is lightweight, well stitched and durable. Understandably, it is wrinkly, but a handheld iron or steamer set to a low setting can easily snuff out the wrinkles on the unit and/or backdrops. Another reviewer recommended wrapping the backdrops around a cylindrical tube, which sounds like a great idea. Bottom line, the wrinkles are going to be there, but it's not a big deal to get rid of them.3. Convenience. The tent easily pops up into place, and the Velcro makes it easy to figure out where the backgrounds should be affixed. Collapsing the tent requires a little work, but only because there were no instructions. A simple Google search takes you to a great step-by-step tutorial (with pictures!) so you can collapse the tent without issue. Plus the storage case fits both the tent and backgrounds and includes a carrying strap, should the occasion arise.Bottom line: This product offers great value, and I definitely recommend it for anyone that doesn't mind a little ironing and reading a couple instructions on diassembling.Update 12/26/12: I'm editing a number of photos I took of a product in the pop-up table tent and noticed I'm having to edit a lot more around the base than I anticipated, due to the fact that the tension of the fabric creates ripples under the product. A work-around will be to place a piece of cardboard or other flat, heavy item (like a book) under the product so that it creates a flat surface. The cardboard won't show through the removable backdrop, and the weight of the product will keep the bottom from bowing upward and creating ripples. Hope this helps!

Can be a tad tricky folding back down but if you can fold down a pop up laundry hamper, this will be a breeze. It has helped me improve my photography skills for my jewelry business IMMENSELY. I noticed that I started selling many more pieces after I started photographing in this light box. It's easy to set up, just make sure you've got really good, strong lights for the sides, and wherever else you may need lighting (perhaps the front, but make sure you use the front curtain if you do that). The front curtain is provided with a slit for your camera so you won't have a problem taking the shot. I am brand new to photography and cannot even figure out PhotoShop. I'm like maybe 10% efficient at Gimp 2, a PhotoShop knockoff. I taught myself everything I know and have gotten rave reviews from clients and other jewelers since I made this purchase. Worth every penny. Oh, and I suggest learning what has become the most basic and important photo editing factor after the pics have been through the light box...learn how to use software (Gimp 2 is free and mostly user friendly) to fix the white balance. Best advice anyone could have ever given me! And the different colored backdrops are the icing on the cake!